title: Effect of age on febrile response in patients with healthcare-associated bloodstream infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine the effect of age on febrile response in patients with healthcare-associated bloodstream infection (BSI).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective observational study using medical records as the primary source of data. Three indicators measured body temperature changes: basal body temperature (BBT), body temperature at infection onset (onset T), and maximum temperature (max T) during the infection period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a sample of 230 patients there was no significant correlation between BBT or onset T and age. Max T was significantly correlated with age (r = -.191, p = .004). There was wide variation in onset T in all age groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age showed no effect on BBT and onset T, but blunted max T in patients with bacteremia. This variability in onset T in all age groups emphasizes the need for early recognition of subtle signs of infection and the need to use an individualized definition of fever.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, China Medical University, Taiwan; Department of Nursing, China Medical University Hospital, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shu-Hua
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Yee-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yue-Cune
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chung-Jen
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: Yu-Tzu
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Dai
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001831:Body Temperature; D005334:Fever / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Elderly; Febrile response; Fever intensity; Healthcare-associated bloodstream infection